ON WATER AND WATERING PIANTS. 205 



that of the water exceeds that of the air. Hence it comes to 

 pass, that water easily supports wood, and vast ships fraught 

 with the heaviest cargo ; for the weight alone will never sink 

 them, unless the goods and the vessel should make up a weight 

 which exceeds that of the water ; and as salt water is heavier than 

 fresh, so it bears greater weight. 



" Those things which are heavier than water, as stones, metals, 

 kc. when they are thrown into it, go straight down to the bottom ; 

 and as their weight is greater, by so much the quicker : while 

 other bodies which are the same weight with the water, do nei- 

 ther float on the surface, nor sink quite down, but remain sus- 

 pended between the top and bottom, as is seen 'in the carcases of 

 animals. 



" 6. Water is insipid and without smell. The reason is, because 

 its flexible parts slip gently over the tongue, and are not sharp 

 enough to prick the nerves and affect the taste : but this is to be 

 understood of pure water, void of all kind of salt; such as dis- 

 tilled water is, and next that of rain : for the most wholsome 

 fountain water commonly derives a saltness from the earth ; 

 though in this place is not meant medicinal fountain water, the 

 taste of which is more acute, but such water as is usually drank. 



" And that it is without smell. The purer any water is, the less 

 smell it has ; for the reason why the particles do not prick the 

 tongue is likewise the reason why they dont affect the smell ; the 

 flexibility and smoothness of water, is such, that they cannot pe- 

 netrate the olfactory nerves ; fountain water has indeed some 

 smell, but then it is a sign that such water is not pure. 



7. " Water is subject to putrify according as the place is 

 where it is kept. Water will grow thick and stinkmg, by heat 

 and rest as we find it does in ponds and marshes, and in close 

 vessels. But here it ought to be remembered, that this was 

 what was spoken of before, as such, water is not pure, for un- 

 mixed water cannot putrify. This is proved by distilled water, 

 which may be kept very long without putrefaction. 



•' Bain water which is caught in clean vessels and presently 

 stopped up close and buried under ground, which is kept many 

 years in countries where they want fountains. This shews that 

 the cause of putrefaction is not in the water itself, but in other 

 things that are mingled with it ; because pure water, such as is 

 distilled or comes out of the clouds, keeps sweet for a vast while 

 But then those vessels, in which such water is kept, must be so 



